The Clarence Zebras have qualified for their second Cup final of the year, as they overcame a spirited Kingborough Lions outfit 3-0 at KGV in their Women's Statewide Cup Semi Final. Allie Berry broke the deadlock in the final seconds of the first half before adding another in the second half to seal the win after Danielle Kannegiesser had extended their advantage with her classy volley just past the hour mark.
The opening half hour of the game saw the Clarence Zebras dominating possession but finding the Lions a very stubborn nut to crack. They were parked back deep and doing a good job denying the likes of Berry and Nichols time and space in dangerous areas, immediately surrounding them when they took possession.
With the Zebras largely restricted to shots from range, the first major chance of the game fell to the Lions as Laura Davis pounced on a mistake at the back, rounded Cook and placed home a shot that would have gone in if not for the intervention of a back tracking Zara Dixon who cleared it away.
As the half wore on the Reds began to look more likely with Mackintosh coming up with a pair of good stops to deny first Nichols, then Bronte Gadon who had looked Clarence's best and most likely player to score.
With half time imminent the Lions were then struck a major blow, as Mackintosh shanked a goal kick straight to Allie Berry at the top of the box. Berry wasted no time in blasting a shot right back over her head and into the back of the net with what would prove the final action of the half. It was an especially cruel blow for Kingborough who would've reached half time level had the goal kick gone further afield but instead found themselves 1-0 down and needing to chase the game.
The Lions had rallied back from a 2-0 deficit midweek against this opponent but there was to be no repeat this time as Clarence Zebras produced an utterly dominant second 45.
Ever the player for the big occasion, Danielle Kannegiesser produced a sublime volley from a corner than snuck in the bottom corner to double the lead on 66 minutes, before Allie Berry made sure of the win three minutes later.
Pouncing on a ball in the area, Berry emphatically smashed her volley home to make it 3-0 and book her sides place in the decider.
The final 25 minutes were a largely tame affair, asides from substitute Alyssa Bowden ratting the crossbar from 30 yards out, as the game finished at 3-0.
It sees the Clarence Zebras into next Saturday's decider where they will take on the winner of Sunday's second semi final between Olympia and South Hobart.
https://youtu.be/cneT93Vb-KQ